front differential

[rlmccook54]

Happy 4th,
My 1990 4runner, v6,4wd,auto,a/c has a popping or clicking noise in the front when stopping sometime. I had a local shop do some front end work recently and they put it on a lift and told me there was play in front differential. The tech showed me that it could be moved by hand. I do some work on the truck and if this is something I could do I will.
I don't have a lift. I put a starter in it a couple of months ago and a funny looking bolt fell out while I was working on it.
Any ideas?
Thanks

[fourwd1]

Normally you are driving around in 2WD, so the front diff isn't really part of the equation.
You may want to put the front end up on jack stands and try rotating the wheels by hand with it in 2WD and 4WD and listen for the noises. If you have the ADD system you will have to have the engine running in order to have the vacuum to lock the front diff. Make sure you do not put the truck in gear with the engine running and the rear wheels on the ground.

Also, a little bit of play in the diff is normal for a 21 year old truck.

[rlmccook54]

Thanks for the help. I don't have stands but have been meaning to get them. What is the best place for them under the front end? Under the frame? Thanks for the warning, too. I saw somebody at a shop drive one of my cars through a garage door one time. Fortunately nobody was hurt.

[fourwd1]

Frame is fine if you can get it high enough so the wheels don't touch the ground.
Just don't use the t-bars (in the front).